Geothermal Energy from Safe Rock Zones

Geothermal energy is already used intensively in Switzerland, mainly by means of geothermal probes that collect heat from the ground to provide heat and hot water for buildings. However, the heat from deeper layers of the earth is hardly used: If one were to drill 1000 m and deeper, one would come across an enormous heat reservoir that can be used for heating purposes, industrial processes and electricity production. At Bedretto rock laboratory of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich and with its scientific support, Geo-Energie Suisse AG has tested a new approach for the safe use of deep geothermal energy.

Read the full specialist article (also in German): „Geothermal Energy from Safe Rock Zones“.

Benedikt Vogel, on behalf of the SFOE